BRITAIN’S JET AIRLINER

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 5

BRITAIN’S JET AIRLINER

Comet To Have Test For Atlantic Run (Special Correspondent N .Z.P.A.) LONDON, May 31. “The de Havil’and Cornet jet airliner is scon to un„er.-o a series of aerial rexueLing tes.s in preparation for its use on the North Atlantic rouie," s..ys the aeronautical correspondent of “Ihe Times.” “As a preliminary, the Comet will fly in formation with a tanker aircraft of Flight Refuelling, Ltd., to ascertain the problems of transferring fuel to such a fast aircraft. Afterwards, either the fir-'t or the second prototype Comet wi I be fitted with the necessary equipment for -serial re.ueLing. “It is believed that i! the airliner is refuelled twice on the westward run across the Atlcntic. off the coasts of Eire and Newfoundland, and once during the eastward journey, it would be able to carry throughout the year its capacity payload ot 14.000’b —48 passengers and their baggage—instead of between 70001 b and 80001 b. This estimate is based on the Comet's present stage of development, but before it is used on the North Atlantic route its performance will be improved by increasing the fuel capacity and by steeping up the power of the Ghost turbojet engines and reducing their specific consumption.” Soot Blocks Road Tunnel.— London's strangest accident shut the Blackwall Tunnel fcr an hour and a half today. A lorry loaded with bags of soot collided with another vehicle. The bags burst and soot filled the tunnel like a fog. Motorists, taxi-drivers, bus conductors, drivers, and passengers came out like nigger minstrels The fire brigade shot water into the tunnel to wash out the soot.—London, Mav 30.